Man United’s new £72m striker Rasmus Hojlund’s debut date revealed, with the 20-year-old Dane hoping to help boost an ailing strike after a back injury
- The date has been set for the Manchester United debut of £72 million star Rasmus Hojlund
- Danish striker Hojlund came over from Atalanta to the Premier League giants in July
- He has struggled with a back injury this season but is not far from a return to action
Rasmus Hojlund will make his much-anticipated Manchester United debut this weekend, with the pressure already high to get started.
The 20-year-old Dane moved from Serie A side Atalanta to Old Trafford in July for a fee of £72m – £64m plus £8m in extras.
But he has suffered a back injury during Atalanta’s pre-season when he joined the club and has been unable to make his United debut so far as a result.
Erik ten Hag’s men had a hard time attacking in the first two games. They beat Wolves 1-0 thanks to a goal from defender Raphael Varane, before losing 2-0 to Tottenham.
Last season’s top scorer Marcus Rashford looked isolated in a central striking role, which is not his best position, while captain Bruno Fernandes was not clinical with the chances created.
The date of £72 million striker Rasmus Hojlund’s Manchester United debut has been revealed
The Red Devils have had a hard time attacking in the first two Premier League games of the season
But Erik ten Hag hopes to have Hojlund on the bench against Nottingham Forest on Saturday
United are thus sweating on Hojlund’s return, which is expected to take place on Saturday.
The club hopes he will be fit enough for a place on the substitutes’ bench against Nottingham Forest at Old Trafford at 3pm.
Hojlund scored just nine goals in 32 league games in his only season in Italy’s top flight after moving from Austria’s Sturm Graz, but has been described by Ten Hag as a ‘unique striker’.
United were beaten 3–0 by Burnley in a secret friendly behind closed doors, with first-team stars Anthony Martial, Scott McTominay and Facundo Pellistri all starting.
However, it is believed that Hojlund was not involved.
Erik ten Hag makes a habit of using the current break between Premier League games to give game minutes to his players, after United played Everton in a similar outing last week.
Jacob Bruun Larsen, Jay Rodriguez and Zeki Amdouni scored for the Clarets as Vincent Kompany’s men scored some much-needed minutes ahead of their clash with Aston Villa on Sunday.
Some of United’s first-team players who suffered injuries in pre-season or didn’t get as many minutes as they would have liked have been at the forefront of attention during friendlies.
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